Special Needs: Caring For The Caregiver

Being a care giver is a big responsibility. The single mom knows that as the main care giver to her family, the responsibility of her duties never goes completely away. Moms who have children with special needs have added responsibilities that can increase the financial, physical and emotional toll of being a care giver to the family.

Going to work, doing the family shopping and running errands are not a break from care giving. They are all part of the job. Parents of children without special needs don’t consider it a respite, and neither should you.

Other family members are also affected by the extra time and effort that is often directed to giving care to a special needs child. The additional pressure of making sure that your other kids have enough of your quality time and attention can be an emotion drain causing fatigue and could damage your health.

There are many support groups available to care givers of special needs children, and moms who join the support groups can find other parents who share the same complications in caring for their families as they face. Finding resources that can help the single mom maneuver the special needs in education and healthcare often are a benefit of becoming a member and actively participating in these groups. But, mom, participation in a group may be supportive, but it is not the respite from care giving that your emotional health requires to help reduce the stress in your life.

All moms need time off. While you know that as a good parent you must always be available for your family, parents need a chance to get away and spend a little bit of time just being themselves. A mom with a special needs child deserves this respite as much, if not more, that any other mom.

Don’t be afraid to take care of your own needs. Find a trusted person to occasionally take over the responsibilities of caring for your family. Take the time to pursue your favorite hobby. Plan an outing with a friend. Take time out to take care of your health by finding ways to reduce the stresses that are associated with care giving. Get away from the medical problem and so something just for you.

About Patrice

Patrice Campbell is a freelance writer working from the Denver area. Campbell started her writing career in the 1980’s, working for several Wisconsin local papers as a news, human interest and features writer, as well as a photographer.

More Single Moms Resources

All caregivers need time to themselves. It is the only way one can fully take care of others is to take care of themselves. Go to a movie, go for a walk, read a book. It does not matter what you do as long as you do something.